Psalm 16, a mictum of David.
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, you are my Lord, I have no good apart from you.
As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those who run after another God shall multiply.
Their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.
The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup, you hold my lot.
The lions have fallen for me in pleasant places.
Indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
I bless the Lord who gives me counsel.
In the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me because He is at my right hand.
I shall not be shaken.
Therefore, my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices.
My flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to shield or let your holy ones see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy.
At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
This is God's holy and authoritative word.
God's holy and authoritative word.
We want to be protected from threats of diseases.
So we exercise, eat healthy and get vaccinated.
We want to be protected from the threat of intruders.
So we get security systems and cameras.
We seek physical security.
We also want social security.
Not the government benefits, but security in our relationships, in society.
So we fastidiously avoid undesirable social situations.
We try to ward off potential embarrassment.
We seek significant others who can grant us social security.
But it's not security alone that we seek.
We also seek happiness.
We earn and save money so that we can buy things that make us happy.
We cultivate relationships with people that we enjoy.
We eat and drink tasty things.
We seek pleasure and happiness in the shows we watch, the places we travel to, in the activities that we do.
But the human desire for security and happiness always face an insurmountable roadblock called death.
It doesn't matter how successful you are.
It doesn't matter how rich you are, how beloved you are, how famous you are, how respected you are, how happy you are.
Death brings an end to it all.
Life insurance might provide for your loved ones, but there is no thing that actually ensures your life.
And this is what human beings fear most of all.
They want security from death itself.
But do they dread it and hide from it?
Death comes knocking on every single person's door all the same.
Psalm 16 is attributed to David.
No one knows what a migtom is,
but we know that David had many close brushes with death.
He was familiar with this threat.
And in this psalm, David is grappling with that fear of death, that primal fear.
But he concludes in the end that there is only one place where we can obtain true security.
A life that will never be cut short by death.
That there is only one way to experience unfiltered and uninterrupted happiness,
and that is in the presence of God.
The giver of life.
The source of all good.
And that's the main point of this psalm,
is that those who make the Lord their chosen portion
will have eternal life and fullness of joy in His presence.
In the first eight verses, we'll look at choosing the Lord as our portion,
what that looks like.
And then in the last three verses,
we'll look at the resurrection life and fullness of joy
that God promises to those who choose the Lord as their portion.
David begins by addressing God directly in prayer in verse 1.
This is a simple, desperate prayer.
We know from verses 10 to 11 that David wants God to preserve him from death.
Preserve me, O God.
Because if you don't, I'm going to die.
Especially nowadays, people who used to avoid thinking about death studiously
have been forced to confront this issue head on.
And so we cry out to God,
Preserve me, O God.
Protect me.
Spare me.
Rescue me.
Why?
For in you I take refuge.
This is the reason that David gives to God
for why God should preserve him.
For in you I take refuge.
It's similar to when people say to each other,
Please help me.
I'm counting on you.
Please help me.
I have no one else to turn to.
When a person says that,
He's saying that he's putting all his legs,
eggs into that one basket.
He's going all in.
He's not saying,
Preserve me, O God.
But it's okay if you forget.
I have a few other refugees lined up that I can turn to.
He's not saying,
Preserve me, O God.
But don't stress too much about it.
You're my backup option number three.
No, David says,
Preserve me, O God.
For in you I take refuge.
I have not taken refuge anywhere else.
In you I take refuge.
I have nowhere else to turn.
I'm counting on you.
I have no hope beside you.
I'm desperate.
Please, O God, preserve me.
If you want security from death itself,
if you want eternal life and fullness of joy,
you must make the Lord your chosen portion.
And what does it mean to make the Lord your chosen portion?
You need to make Him and no one else your refuge.
When you are afraid of getting sick and dying.
When you're afraid of getting old and dying.
When you're afraid of getting into an accident and dying.
To whom do you turn?
To a doctor?
To a therapist?
To an insurance salesman?
Do you medicate yourself with alcohol?
To an insurance salesman?
Do you binge watch shows to find fleeting escape from the harsh realities of life?
There's only one hope for eternal life.
And that is in the Lord God Himself.
When you feel alone.
When you are worried.
When you are afraid.
To whom do you turn?
To your spouse?
To your counselor?
To your friend?
To your parent?
There is no better husband than Jesus Christ.
Who is the bridegroom of the church.
And there is no better friend than Jesus.
Who laid down His life for His friends.
There is no better counselor than the Holy Spirit.
Our comforter.
And there is no better parent than our Heavenly Father.
Who loves us.
So will you turn to God as your refuge?
That's the Christian's impulse.
The Christian's first recourse in every situation is preserve me, O God.
For in you I take refuge.
After addressing God directly in verse 1,
David then turns to his fellow worshipers around him.
Psalms are songs that the Israelites used in corporate worship.
And so David now addresses the congregation in verse 2.
I say to the Lord,
You are my Lord.
I have no good apart from you.
The first word, Lord, in all caps,
is a stand-in for the proper name of God.
Yehovah,
or Yahweh, some people say.
The second word, Lord,
however, is not in all caps.
And that's a word that many of you have heard.
It's the Hebrew word Adonai,
which means Lord,
or Master.
David is saying,
I say to Yehovah,
You are my master.
I have no good apart from you.
I have not pledged allegiance to other gods.
I have not worshipped any other gods.
I say to you,
Yehovah,
you alone,
you are my master,
and I am your servant.
To make the Lord our chosen portion
is to pledge allegiance to Him
as our master.
To submit our purposes to His,
to align our priorities with His,
to subject our desires to His.
It means to say with the psalmist,
I have no good apart from you.
To put it another way,
all that is good that I cherish
is within you.
I desire nothing besides you.
All that makes my life worth living
I have found in you.
To use the words of Psalm 73, 25 to 26,
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth
that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 16,
If anyone would come after me,
let him deny himself
and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever would save his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake
will find it.
For what will it profit a man
if he gains the whole world
and forfeits his soul?
Or what shall a man give in return
for his soul?
To take up one's cross
and follow Jesus
is to die to oneself,
to subject oneself completely
to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ,
to make Him your only portion.
That's what Psalm 16, verse 2 means.
I have no good apart from you.
You're all the good I seek.
My deepest desires,
my loftiest hopes,
my greatest dreams
are all found in you, Lord.
I forsake all else to follow you.
That's what it means
to make the Lord your chosen portion,
to pledge allegiance to Him
as your master.
And as David's addressing the congregation,
he can't help but express
his affection for them as well.
He says in verse 3,
As for the saints in the land,
they are the excellent ones
in whom is all my delight.
The word saints is literally holy ones.
It's a word that parallels
the word translated holy one in verse 10.
It means consecrated people.
Those who are specially set apart for God.
When you make the Lord your portion,
you can't help but delight
in the Lord's people.
They are the excellent ones,
says David.
The word excellent means magnificent,
glorious, or prominent.
It's used to describe
a mighty towering cedar tree
in Ezekiel 17, 23.
The same word is used to describe
God's majesty and might,
which it compares
to the mighty crashing sea.
He says the Lord's might
is mightier than that.
Psalm 93, verse 4.
That same word is also used
to describe nobility.
The rulers,
the noble ones among men.
In Jeremiah 14, verse 3.
To the Christian,
the excellent ones of the earth
are not the rich
and the powerful.
They are not the people
with verified Twitter accounts.
They are not the people
with doctorates
from the most esteemed institutions.
No, the saints in the land.
They are the excellent ones.
In whom is all my delight.
Why?
Because they
are my adopted brothers and sisters
in the family of God.
Because they
are my fellow citizens
and comrades
in the kingdom of God.
Because they
love
the God I love.
Because they
serve
the God
I serve.
Because their hearts
beat for the same things
that my heart beats for.
Because they
their tears
fall for the same things
that my tears
fall for.
Because they
have tasted
what I have tasted.
Because they
have seen
what I have seen.
That the Lord
is good.
They are
the excellent ones.
They are
the noble ones.
John Calvin
says this
in his commentary
on this psalm.
he says
this passage
therefore
teaches us
that there is
no sacrifice
more acceptable
to God
than when we
sincerely
and heartily
connect ourselves
with the society
of the righteous.
And being
knit together
by the sacred
bond of godliness
cultivate
and maintain
with them
brotherly
goodwill.
In this
sorry
we ought
to
therefore
highly
to value
and esteem
the true
and devoted
servants of God
and to regard
nothing
as of greater
importance
than to connect
ourselves
with their
society.
do you
aspire
and
strive
sincerely
and heartily
to connect
yourself
with the
society
of the
saints?
this
resurrection
Sunday
and every
Sunday
there is
nowhere else
I would
rather be
than to
celebrate the
Lord Jesus
Christ with
you all.
truly
the saints
of the
land
the
consecrated
ones
the
set
apart
people
all of
you
who know
the
Lord
you are
the
excellent
ones
the
noble
ones
in whom
is all
my
delight
there is
no
society
in all
the
world
that I
would
rather
be
a
part
of
that I
am
more
proud
to be
a
part
of
there is
no
company
in all
the
world
that I
prefer
to
this
the
company
of
the
saints
sinners
saved
by the
grace
of
God
but what
about
those
who do
not
belong
to
God
those
who do
not
worship
God
verse
4
sets
up
the
contrast
it
says
the
sorrows
of
those
who run
after
another
God
shall
multiply
their
drink
offerings
of
blood
I
will
not
pour
out
or
take
their
names
on
my
lips
those
who
make
the
Lord
their
chosen
portion
will
have
eternal
life
and
fullness
of
joy
in
God's
presence
but
those
who run
after
another
God
shall
multiply
sorrows
the
word
sorrow
can
also
be
translated
pains
or
troubles
an
idol
is
anything
that
we
replace
God
with
as
our
chosen
portion
what
is
your
supreme
treasure
in
life
what
can't
you
bear
to
lose
what
preoccupies
your
mind
and
occupies
your
heart
more
than
God
some
people
in
the
world
worship
gods
that
they
have
fashioned
with
their
own
minds
or
with
their
own
hands
they
rely
on
them
as
their
refuge
instead
of
relying
on
the
true
Lord
but
this
is
not
the
only
kind
of
idolatry
in
the
world
many
people
give
their
hearts
to
the
idols
of
beauty
sex
wealth
comfort
control
substances
social
prestige
power
many
people set
themselves
up
as
gods
they
bow
to no
one
but to
their
own
selfish
desires
there
is
payoff
to
all
of
these
idolatries
by the
way
they
do
something
for
you
that's
why
people
turn
to
them
however
fleeting
it may
be
but
eventually
the
bill
that
they
can't
pay
comes
due
sooner
or
later
because
running
after
another
god
multiplies
sorrows
we were
all once
like this
some
of you
may still
be running
after other
gods
and I
implore
you
because
you
will
surely
be
disappointed
you
will
surely
become
enslaved
to
these
idols
it
will
surely
end
in
death
you
will
not
find
the
security
and
happiness
that
you
are
looking
for
but
it
doesn't
have
to
be
that
way
you
can
turn
to
the
lord
and
experience
eternal
life
and
fullness
of
joy
and
so
David
distances
himself
from
those
who
run
after
other
gods
he
says
their
drink
offerings
of
blood
I
will
not
pour
out
I
will
not
take
their
names
on
my
lips
only
name
I
will
have
on
my
lips
is
the
name
of
the
Lord
the
only
people
that
I
will
delight
in
are
the
saints
in
the
land
so
David
continues
in
verses
5
to
6
the
Lord
is
my
chosen
and
my
cup
you
hold
my
lot
the
lions
have
fallen
for
me
in
pleasant
places
indeed
I
have
a
beautiful
inheritance
when
the
Israelites
first
conquered
the
promised
land
that
the
Lord
had
given
them
they
divided
up
the
land
by
lot
it's
the
account
you can
find
in
Joshua
13
to
21
the
Lord
himself
chose
what
each
tribe's
portion
would
be
that's
why
it
was
decided
by
lot
and
in
the
ancient
world
in
an
agrarian
society
land
was
everything
it
was
your
very
livelihood
and
even
more
importantly
because
the
promised
land
was
connected
to the
covenant
promises
of
God
to
be
inherited
from
the
land
to be
cut
off
from
the
land
was
to be
cut
off
from
the
covenant
community
itself
so
each
tribe
of
Israel
had
its
chosen
portion
or
an
allotted
portion
and
David
belonged
to the
tribe
of
Judah
which
had
its
allotted
territory
but
David
was
also
familiar
with
the
bitter
experience
of
being
disinherited
of
being
excluded
from
the
land
of
Israel
and
being
alienated
from
the
people
of
God
in
1
Samuel
26
18
to
19
David
is
chased
by
King
Saul
who
because
of
his
envy
of
David
tries
to
kill
him
and
David
says
this
to
Saul
why
does
my
Lord
pursue
after
his
servant
for
what
have
I
done
what
evil
is
on
my
hands
now
therefore
let
my
Lord
the
king
hear
the
words
of
his
servant
if
it
is
the
Lord
who
has
stirred
you
up
against
me
may
he
accept
an
offering
but
if
it
is
men
may
they
be
cursed
before
the
Lord
for
they
have
driven
me
out
this
day
that
I
should
have
no
share
in
the
heritage
of
the
Lord
saying
go
serve
other
gods
David
knew
from
personal
experience
the
bitterness
of
being
driven
out
from
the
promised
land
he
knew
the
feeling
of
being
told
you
have
no
share
with
us
go
and
serve
other
gods
but
David
learned
from
that
lonely
painful
experience
how
to
claim
the
Lord
alone
as
his
chosen
portion
and
cup
you
might
remember
that
there
was
one
tribe
in
Israel
that
actually
never
received
any
land
it
says
in
numbers
18
20
and
the
Lord
said
to
Aaron
you
shall
have
no
inheritance
in
their
land
neither
shall
you
have
any
portion
among
them
I
am
your
portion
and
your
inheritance
among
the
people
of
Israel
the
tribe
of
Levi
the
priestly
tribe
that
Aaron
belonged
to
received
no
inheritance
or
portion
because
God
said
to
them
I
am
your
portion
you
have
no
land
to
farm
but
I
will
provide
for
you
have
no
portion
but
I
will
be
your
portion
instead
of
working
the
land
you
will
serve
me
in
my
temple
I
myself
will
be
your
inheritance
and
David
is
grabbing
a
hold
of
that
language
that
promise
here
in
verses
5
to
6
when
he
says
the
Lord
is
my
chosen
portion
and
my
cup
you
hold
my
lot
the
lines
have
fallen
for
me
in
pleasant
places
indeed
I
have
a
beautiful
inheritance
David
is
using
the
language
of
land
allotment
figuratively
not
literally
the
word
translated
pleasant
places
in
verse
6
is
the
same
word
that
translated
pleasures
in
verse
11
to
refer
to
the
eternal
pleasures
that
you
find
in
the
presence
of
God
alone
so
David
is
not
saying
that
God
has
given
him
a
generous
bountiful
portion
of
physical
land
he's
saying
that
the
Lord
himself
is
his
allotted
portion
and
cup
as
was
the
case
for
the
Levites
because
those
pleasures
forevermore
are found
in
God
alone
if
David
were
referring
to
literal
land
here
this
verse
would
only
apply
to
rich
and
prosperous
Christians
who
can
look
around
themselves
at
the
poor
and
less
fortunate
people
around
them
and say
smugly
oh the
lions
have
fallen
for
me
in
pleasant
places
indeed
I
have
a
beautiful
inheritance
but
that's
not
what
this
verse
means
at
all
instead
it
means
that
if
you
make
the
Lord
your
chosen
portion
if
you
make
the
Lord
your
inheritance
you
will
be
satisfied
in
him
do
you
think
the
Levites
fell
snubbed
when
they
were
omitted
from
the
land
allotment
do
you
think
they
felt
short
changed
well
actually
God
that's
nice
of you
to offer
yourself
as
our
portion
inheritance
but
I'd
really
like
that
real
estate
over
there
instead
you
see
that
one
over
there
with
the
grass
and
the
well
on
it
no
way
not
a
chance
but
isn't
that
what
we
do
brothers
and
sisters
so
often
God
has
offered
up
himself
to
us
he
has
given
us
his
very
heart
he
has
given
his
only
son
Jesus
for
us
he
has
poured
out
his
very
spirit
into
our
hearts
and
then
we
say
well
I
really
like
that
house
I
really
like
that
job
I
really
like
that
promotion
I
really
like
that
internship
I
really
like
that
man
I
really
like
that
woman
I
really
like
that
vacation
God
I
think
I
feel
like
I
have
the
lines
that
fall
for
me
in
pleasant
places
if
you
get
that
thing
for
me
but
God
says
to
us
I
am
your
portion
David
says
to
God
you
hold
my
lot
meaning
God
is
the
one
who
chooses
the
allotment
God
is
the
one
who
holds
David's
fate
his
destiny
his
lot
in
life
in
his
hands
David
is
completely
entrusted
to
him
totally
disposed
to
the
will
of
God
you
hold
my
lot
you
direct
my
steps
you
are
my
chosen
portion
and
my
cup
and
therefore
the
lines
have
fallen
for
me
in
pleasant
places
and
I
have
a
beautiful
inheritance
whether
I
am
rich
or
poor
healthy
or
sick
married
or
single
respected
or
despised
you
are
my
portion
and
that's
a
pleasant
boundary
indeed
what
good
is it
for
a
man
to
gain
the
whole
world
yet
forfeit
his
soul
what
good
is it
for
a
man
to
own
the
whole
world
yet
not
know
God
as
his
portion
David
didn't
have
an
easy
life
by
any
stretch
of
the
imagination
of
course
some
good
things
happened
to
him
he
caught
a
few
breaks
here
and
there
like
all
of
us
but
after
his
father-in-law
became
envious
of
him
he
chased
him
tried
to
kill
him
for
two
years
during
that
time
his
wife
was
given
away
to
another
man
he
had
his
family
and
children
kidnapped
one
time
by
marauders
and
the
man
who
followed
him
tried
to
kill
him
because
of
it
he
lost
one
of
his
children
in
infancy
another
one
of
his
sons
was
murdered
by
another
one
of
his
sons
and
one
of
his
sons
rebelled
against
him
staged
a coup
tried
to
overthrow
him
and
nearly
succeeded
because
of
his
sin
David
his
sin
the
plague
broke
out
in
the
nation
of
Israel
and
he
had
to
bear
that
guilt
on
his
shoulders
David
was
familiar
with
exile
and
betrayal
he
had
many
gray
hairs
on
his
head
he
had
shed
many
hot
tears
in
his
life
and
yet
when
he
looks
back
on
his
head
with
him
every
step
of
the
way
how
the
Lord
had
been
his
confidant
how
he
had
been
his
faithful
companion
how
the
Lord
had
been
his
refuge
his
counselor
his
advocate
he
exclaims
the
lines
have
fallen
from
me
in
pleasant
places
indeed
I
have
a
beautiful
inheritance
I
know
your
life
is
not
easy
my
life
isn't
easy
either
but
I
can
tell
you
that
my
lines
have
fallen
for
me
in
pleasant
places
the
Lord
has
never
let
me
down
David
continues
to
explain
what
it
means
to
make
the
Lord
his
portion
in
verses
seven
to
eight
I
bless
the
Lord
who
gives
me
counsel
in
the
night
also
my
heart
instructs
me
I
have
set
the
Lord
always
before
me
because
he
is
at
my
right
hand
I
shall
not
be
shaken
most
of
us
know
what
it's
like
to
be
kept
up
at
night
worrying
about
something
maybe
a hard
conversation
you had
earlier
that
day
or
a
painful
experience
or
some
difficult
decision
you
have
to
make
and
you
find
yourself
tossing
and
turning
on
your
bed
into
the
wee
hours
of
the
night
in
those
times
David
says
it's
the
Lord
who
gives
me
counsel
in
the
night
also
my
heart
instructs
me
the
word
night
is
actually
plural
in
the
original
Hebrew
some
of
you
know
what
it's
like
to
have
many
restless
nights
in
your
nights
wracked
by
anxiety
in
your
sleepless
nights
in
your
forlorn
and
lonely
nights
God
is
there
to
give
you
counsel
David
says
I
have
set
the
Lord
always
before
me
because
he
is
at
my
right
hand
I
shall
not
be
shaken
similar
to the
way
we
use
the
expression
right
hand
man
the
right
side
which
is
most
people's
dominant
side
is a
metaphor
for where
help
and
deliverance
usually
comes
from
back in
those
times
in
court
the
witness
for
the
defendant
stood
on
the
right
side
the
Lord
is
at
your
right
hand
to
defend
you
to
advocate
for
you
to
counsel
you
he
has
your
back
he
is
your
strong
supporter
your
tireless
advocate
he
will
come
to
your
aid
he
will
come
to
your
defense
so
set
him
always
before
you
and
when
the
Lord
is
set
before
us
we
shall
not
be
shaken
verses
9
to
11
tell
us
that
when
we
make
the
Lord
our
chosen
portion
we
will
have
resurrection
life
and
fullness
of
joy
he
says
in
verse
9
therefore
my
heart
is
glad
and
my
whole
being
rejoices
my
flesh
also
dwells
secure
here
it
is
security
and
happiness
that
we
all
long
for
can
only
be
found
in
the
Lord
when
we
claim
the
Lord
as
our
chosen
portion
our
hearts
will be
full
of
gladness
our
whole
beings
will
rejoice
and
even
our
flesh
our
body
will
dwell
secure
why
here's
the
reason
for
David's
confidence
in
verses
10
to
11
for
you
will
not
abandon
my
soul
to
shield
or
let
your
holy
one
see
corruption
you
make
known
to
me
the
path
of
life
in
your
presence
there
is
fullness
of
joy
at
your
right
hand
are
pleasures
forever
more
shield
is
a
metaphor
for
the
grave
sometimes
translated
the
pit
the
realm
of
the
dead
David
has
faith
that
God
will
not
let
him
a
holy
one
of
the
consecrated
people
of
God
the
saints
in
the
land
mentioned
in
verse
3
he
believes
that
God
will
not
let
him
a
holy
one
perish
and
rot
in
the
grave
God
you've
been
with
me
all
the
days
of
my
life
you've
delivered
me
time
and
time
again
you
have
been
by
my
side
at
my
right
hand
through
all
the
ups
and
downs
of
life
and
will
you
now
abandon
me
to
the
grave
David
thinks
not
you make
known to
me
the
path
of
life
John
5
26
says
that
God
has
life
in
himself
meaning
he's
the
original
source
of
life
all
other
living
beings
have
life
that's
derived
from
God's
life
but
God
has
life
in
himself
Job
33
verse 4
says
the
spirit
of
God
has
made
me
and
the
breath
of
the
almighty
gives
me
life
Lord
I've
taken
refuge
in
you
David
is
saying
the
giver
of
life
you
are
my
allotted
portion
my
inheritance
how
can
then I
perish
in
death
when
you're
the
giver
of
life
how
can
I
experience
anything
other
than
lions
fallen
in
pleasant
places
so
David
has
full
confidence
you
will
not
abandon
my
soul
to
shield
or
let
your
holy
one
see
corruption
but
David's
hope
was not
fully
realized
at
that
time
he
later
died
in
old
age
because
he
was
speaking
prophetically
of
Jesus
Christ
the
messianic
king
who
will
rise
up
from
the
descendants
of
David
to be
the
new
and
better
David
who
fulfills
that
everything
David
could
not
he's
the
one
who
fulfills
this
psalm
and
brings
this
resurrection
eternal
life
and
fullness
of
joy
to
fruition
among
God's
people
if you
have your
Bibles
please
turn to
Acts
chapter 2
verses
22
to
32
with
me
I
preached
on this
a few
weeks
ago
it
says
in
Acts
2
22
to
32
men
of
Israel
hear
these
words
Jesus
of
Nazareth
this
is
Peter
preaching
a
man
Jesus
of
Nazareth
a man
attested
to
you
by
God
with
mighty
works
and
wonders
and
signs
that
God
did
through
him
in
your
midst
as
you
yourselves
know
this
Jesus
delivered up
according to
the definite
plan
and foreknowledge
of God
you
crucified
and killed
by the hands
of lawless
men
God
raised him
up
losing
the pangs
of death
because it
was not
possible for
him to be
held by
it
for David
says
concerning
him
and then he
quotes from
Psalm 16
I saw
the Lord
always
before me
for he
is at
my right
hand
that I
may not
be shaken
therefore
my heart
was glad
and my
tongue
rejoiced
my flesh
also will
dwell in
hope
for you
will not
abandon
my soul
to Hades
or let
your holy
one
see
corruption
you have
made
known to
me
the paths
of life
you will
make me
full of
gladness
with your
presence
brothers
this is
Peter
explaining
this
psalm
I may
say to
you
with
confidence
about
the
patriarch
David
that he
both
died
and was
buried
and his
tomb
is with
us
to this
day
being
therefore
a
prophet
and knowing
that God
has sworn
with an
oath
to him
that he
would
set
one of
his
descendants
on
his
throne
he
foresaw
and spoke
about
the
resurrection
of the
Christ
that he
was not
abandoned
to
Hades
nor did
his flesh
see
corruption
this
Jesus
God
raised
up
and of
that
we
all
are
witnesses
every
human
being
dies
because
every
human
being
has
sinned
with the
exception
of Jesus
the son
of God
and son
of man
Romans
6
23
says
that
the
wages
of
sin
is
death
that
is
the
inevitable
consequence
of
sin
but
that
same
verse
also
says
the
free
gift
but
the
free
gift
of
God
is
eternal
life
in
Christ
Jesus
our
Lord
Jesus
the
only
human
being
that
should
not
have
died
a
gruesome
death
on
the
cross
2000
years
ago
because
he
was
God's
chosen
one
our
representative
our
king
and he
died
the
death
that
we
should
have
died
he
bore
the
punishment
that
we
deserved
for
our
sins
and
on
the
third
day
which
we
celebrate
today
on
resurrection
Sunday
he
was
raised
from
the
dead
and
of
that
the
apostles
bore
witness
and
of
that
church
the
church
of
every
generation
since
and
we
today
bear
witness
Jesus
says
I
am
the
resurrection
and
the
life
whoever
believes
in me
though
he
die
yet
shall
he
live
do
you
believe
this
it's
normal
for us
mortal
beings
to fear
death
it's
okay
to be
afraid
to
acknowledge
it
to face
it
but
don't
stay
there
speak
to
yourself
this
truth
the
Lord
will
not
abandon
your
soul
to
shield
or
let
his
holy
one
see
corruption
those
who
make
God
their
chosen
portion
will
not
be
abandoned
to
the
grave
when
Christ
returns
he
will
raise
up
our
body
so
that
we
can
enjoy
eternal
resurrection
life
in
God's
presence
and
then
this
confidence
that
David
had
with
two
will
be
rewarded
and
we
will
dwell
together
where
there's
pleasures
forevermore
isn't
that a
wonderful
phrase
sometimes
Christians
mistakenly
think
that
heaven
will
be
a
boring
drab
place
where
none
of
us
will
have
much
to
do
when
in
reality
there
is
fullness
of
joy
and
pleasures
forever
more
in
God's
presence
every
good
gift
and
every
perfect
gift
is
from
above
from
God
James
117
says
God
is
good
and
he
does
good
all
that
is
good
he's
the
source
of
all
that
is
good
in
your
life
everything
that
is
truly
good
in
your
life
is
of
God
the
warmth
of
love
you
feel
in
the
embrace
of
your
spouse
the
care
and
kindness
you
feel
when
you
stare
into
your
child's
twinkling
eyes
the
strength
you
feel
in
the
support
of
a
loyal
friend
the
delectable
bitter
sweetness
of
chocolate
the
savory
and
cleansing
healing
unami
of
chicken
noodle
soup
the
smell
of
roasting
coffee
beans
or
freshly
baked
bread
the
glistening
sunlight
over the
ocean
the
full moon
and stars
on a
clear night
sky
the elegance
of a
math
or a
physics
equation
the
entrancing
beauty
of music
the
grandeur
of the
alps
all
that is
good
in this
life
that you
can
think
of
has
its
origin
in
God
himself
and
in the
presence
of
God
there
is
fullness
of
joy
I
can't
imagine
it
but I
want
it
so
badly
I
long
for
that
fullness
of
joy
pleasures
forever
more
and
that's
the
portion
and
inheritance
that
God
promised
to
those
who
belong
to
Jesus
the
cheap
thrills
and
fleeting
pleasures
that
this
world
the
flesh
and
the
devil
tempt
us
with
our
pale
anemic
imitations
of
the
real
thing
so
will
you
make
the
Lord
your
chosen
portion
today